Indians here on donkey business

Diaspora Lanka Movement has given its wholehearted co-operation

A team of Indian scientists were studying the stray donkeys in Mannar, Mannar Urban Council (MUC) Asst. Chairman James Jesuthas said yesterday. Donkey sanctuary officials from India paid a visit to Mannar to conduct research on the welfare of the donkeys.

The Mannar region had been noted for its presence of donkeys since former times.

A media briefing was held on Friday, June 7 to explain the nature of the visit of the Indian officials.

The participants were education co-ordinator and Donkey Sanctuary Society shareholder Iram Parwin, veterinarian and co-ordinator Dr. Ramesh Kumar, veterinarian Sumita, Diaspora Lanka movement co-ordinator Jeremy Liyanage, Diaspora Lanka Movement Liaison Officer Sinclair

Peter, Mannar Urban Council

Outsiders and foreign tourists who come to Mannar are greatly fascinated by the animals

Members Ratnasingam and Kumaresh.

“The donkeys had been around in Mannar for thousands of years, but when the people were displaced due to the war, the close connection between the animals and the people was severed,” Jesuthas said. “Now, with the people resettling the donkeys have become a problem, as the lifestyle has changed considerably. But outsiders and foreign tourists who come to Mannar are greatly fascinated by the animals.

“It is in this backdrop that the two veterinarians and one social education officer have come from Indian Sanctuaries to help the MUC’s welfare efforts for donkeys,

“For this, Diaspora Lanka Movement has given its wholehearted co-operation. They are discussing matters with the relevant veterinary officials, Urban Council members, members of the society and

Two veterinarians and one social education officer have come from Indian Sanctuaries to help the MUC’s welfare efforts for donkeys

students.

“In keeping with the requests of the Urban Council of Mannar, treating donkeys that are ill, euthanasia, rabies preventive injection, sterilising donkeys, attaching micro-chips containing statistics of donkeys, training veterinary officials regarding animal care, taming donkeys, giving them food and seminars to create awareness among the people are being conducted,” he said.